Hewlett Girls Track Cap Off Undefeated Championship Season

If there is a dynasty for Nassau high school track, the Lady Bulldogs would fit that description well.

This past season, Hewlett finished with a record of 13-0 to claim the Conference III title along with the division title. The team topped opposing schools such as Plainedge, South Side and Bethpage. The feat now gives the Lady Bulldogs three straight conference titles dating back to 2009 and 16 spring conference titles in school history. The team also claimed the same honors and went undefeated in 2004-2006, as well as 2007.

Headed by 13th year head coach Steve Honerkamp, Hewlett is ranked right at the top of Nassau County along with the likes of Garden City. The Lady Trojans finished in first place overall in front of second-place Hewlett in the hosted at Cold Spring Harbor High School on May 24 and 25.

“We have done a lot of confidence building, showing them what their potential could be. We try to put the girls in situations to really succeed,” Honerkamp said. “People know we work hard in all of the events and do well. We have scored the points to win and it is a huge credit to the kids on the team.”

Honerkamp, who has a 160-18-1 career conference record as the Hewlett head coach, said he is grateful to have such a talented group of student-athletes to represent the program. With just five seniors, including Vanessa Pierre, Natalie Herzberg and Marsha Cohen, along with four juniors, Hewlett looks to have a number of successful years still to come.

“Our three seniors who score a lot of the points have been around and really care a lot," Honerkamp said. "The other kids see that and really want to do well for themselves as well as those seniors.”

Pierre, who began varsity competition as a seventh grader, is a six-time Nassau County champion in the long jump event and a five-time New York State qualifier. She finished in third place at states in 2010 and competed in the national tournament this past winter season. She also received all-county honors in the triple jump event this year.

“It was a great season overall and I am proud of everyone, including myself,” Pierre said. “The experience was a great one and we ended up really well at the county championships.”

Herzberg received all-county honors for the 800-meter event as well as a second place finish in the 4 x 800 relay with Cohen, Amanda Kaufman and Heather Kamiker.

“I won all-county for the first time and set a new personal and school record, so that was a really big moment,” Herzberg said. “It is a huge accomplishment of our success this season. It was the first team I’ve been a part of that went four seasons undefeated and I hope the others can keep that going.”

Cohen is a third senior who used her experience and leadership to play a large role in the undefeated season and successful showing at the county championships.

“We all worked together to win and each point we picked up really mattered,” Cohen said. “Our coach was really impressed with a lot of people on our team this year.”

Shari Weiss won the county championship in the pole vault competition as just a freshman and will be an incremental part of Hewlett girls track in the future.

“I gave it my best at the county championships and during the whole season. I am happy that I had my coaches to help me through it,” Weiss said. “I look up to the older people and see how successful they are, and I try as hard as I can to be just like that.”

The Hewlett girls track team have lost just four meets in the spring season in the last 10 years. The team has defeated top-ranked Garden City three times in that span and highly-ranked North Shore in 2010. Hewlett is the only team in Nassau County to defeat both teams in consecutive seasons.

Jayla Therancy, who finished her junior season with all-county honors in the 100 hurdles event, will be looked at to lead the Bulldogs to a fourth straight spring conference title in 2012.

“This season was really fun and our team has an amazing time together competing. We do well and push each other,” Therancy said. “Next year, I’m going to work hard, push my teammates and be a leader, follow by example.”